CLASS A PREVIEW
By Roger Mischke
MAT RATS PREVIEW (2022-2023)
SECTION 8A
FAVORITES: UNITED NORTH CENTRAL WARRIORS and the CROOKSTON PIRATES
DARK HORSES: FRAZEE HORNETS and the FOSSTON-BAGLEY BROWLERS
UNITED NORTH CENTRAL WARRIORS
Head Coach: Jacob Oyster
Park Region Conference: 4-3
Overall: 22-10
The Warriors were defeated by the Section 7A Champions Royalton-Upsala 49-16 in the Class A state quarterfinals. They defeated the Section 5A champions BBE 34-30 in the consolation semifinals and they were defeated by the Section 4A champions Kimball Area 41-24. They had three bigs wins to claim the Section 8A championship; Fertile-Beltrami 64-9, Fosston-Bagley 55-19 and Frazee 44-19. The Warriors had thirteen section place winners, including eight state qualifiers and four state medal winners. The Warriors were also recognized for their 3.66 GPA. Returning for the Warriors are nine section place winners, five state qualifiers and one place winner. They will have nine with fourteen plus wins, including five others with experience. Look for the Warriors to make a strong challenge to defend their section honors and possibly challenge for state honors. With their state tourney experience, they should challenge their good overall dual marks and they should move up in the conference. Their key leaders should include: Hank Tellers (38-11), Marcus Peterson (29-8), Aaron Lake (26-14), Conrad Koll (22-10), Cooper Hasbargen (20-20), Zach Hendrickson (19-17), Shawn Hendrickson (19-17), and Mason Plautz (16-16).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Hank Tellers 12th 38-11 2nd Section/AC
Marcus Peterson 12th 29-18 2nd Section/AC
Aaron Lake 11th 26-14 2nd Section
Conrad Koll 8th 22-10 2nd Section
Cooper Hasbargen 10th 20-20
Zach Hendrickson 11th 19-17 2nd Section
Shawn Hendrickson 12th 17-23 3rd Section
Mason Plautz 10th 16-16 3rd Section
Wyatt Olson 12th 14-22 4th Section
Zach Davidson 10th 10-27
Fordyce Johnson 9th 9-7
Levi Olson 8th 4-3
Riley Livingston 10th 2-2
Aiden Olmster 10th 1-6
Graduates:
Ethan Hendrickson 52-1 1st Sec./State Champ/AC/170-20 Career
Eion Ness 46-9 1st Sec./4th State/AC/157-72 Career
Torrey Carlson 39-14 1st Sec.4th State/AC/81-67 Career
Dylan Rasmussen 10-16 4th Section/69 Career Wins
Spencer Erickson 13-18
CROOKSTON PIRATES
Head Coach: Wes Hanson
North Star Conference:
Overall: 14-10
The Pirates defeated Mahnomen-Waubun 54-30 in the section quarterfinals and in the semifinals they were defeated by Frazee 35-34. The Pirates will return nine section place winners, six state qualifiers and two state medal winners and two with experience. They will have nine back with twenty-four plus wins, so look for this young team to challenge those dual meet numbers from last season. They should defend their conference honors. Look for this team to continue to make strides of improvement, they should make a challenge for section 8A honors, in what should be a pretty balanced section dual meet campaign. The Pirates key leaders should include: Ethan Boll (44-1), Evin Trudeau (41-11), Gavyn Hlucny (36-13), Carter Coauette (35-14), Ethan Bowman (34-13), Casey Weiland (28-16), Hunter Knutson (24-17) and Braxton Volker (24-11).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Ethan Boll 12th 44-1 1st Sec./State Champ/AC
Evin Trudeau 11th 41-11 1st Section/AC
Gavyn Hlucny 9th 36-13 1st Sec./6th State/AC
Carter Coauette 11th 35-14 1st Section/AC
Ethan Bowman 12th 34-13 2nd Section
Casey Weiland 9th 28-16 3rd Section
Hunter Knutson 12th 24-17 2nd Section
Braxton Volker 12th 24-11
Laymen Fuentes 10th 16-25 6th Section
Hunter Kresel 12th 11-25 3rd Section
Jess Sanchez 12th 3-14
FRAZEE HORNETS
Head Coach: Travis Nagel
Heart O’Lakes Conference: 3-1
Overall: 9-9
The Hornets defeated Barnesville in their section 8A quarterfinal 571-7 and Crookston in the semifinals 35-34. They were defeated by UNC 44-19 in the championship. They had four section place winners, including four state qualifiers. Back from that team are thirteen section place winners and four state qualifiers, this young team will have eleven with double figure wins back. Look for the Hornets to improve on those dual meet marks and challenge for conference honors. This young team should continue to make strides of improvement thru out the course of the season. They should make a strong challenge for section honors. Their key leaders should include: Jake Nagel (30-4), Tyler Moe (29-14), Daniel Graham (23-15), Jack Graham (23-17, Bailey Peichel (20-12) and Josh Mellema (16-17).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Jake Nagel 12th 30-4 1st Section
Tyler Moe 11th 29-14 3rd Section
Daniel Graham 12th 23-15 2nd Section
Jack Graham 9th 23-17 4th Section
Bailey Peichel 10th 20-12 2nd Section
Josh Mellema 11th 16-17 4th Section
Cash Osterman 9th 14-20 3rd Section
Sebastian Sonnenberg 10th 12-18 6th Section
Brady Borah 11th 12-19 4th Section
Xander Kohler 11th 12-20 6th Section
Max Rue 12th 10-19 5th Section
Cade Nagel 10th 9-6 2nd Section
Erick Rodelo 11th 5-11 4th Section
Graduates:
Byron Krojswenske 22-15 3rd Section
FOSSTON-BAGLEY BROWLERS
Head Coach: Pat Wolfe
North Star Conference: 4-2
Overall: 8-17
The Browlers defeated B/GB/MR 51-27 and in the semifinals they were defeated by UNC 54-12 in the Section 8A duals. They had twelve section place winners including two state qualifiers. Back from that team they will have nine section place winners, two state qualifiers and six with experience. Look for this young team to make strides of improvement thru out the course of the season. If they stay healthy they should challenge for a top four spot in a pretty balanced Section 8A dual meet campaign. Their key leaders should include: Zach Thompson (31-10), Aiden Wolf (26-8), Kadin Harwood (14-25), Ian Phrakonkham (14-12) and Jonathan Rose (13-20).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Zach Thompson 10th 31-10 2nd Section/AC
Aiden Wolfe 11th 26-8 1st Section//AC
Kadin Harwood 10th 14-25 4th Section
Ian Phrakonkham 9th 14-21 6th Section
Jonathan Rose 9th 13-20 5th Section
Luke Sannes 11th 11-21
Jackson Rudie 9th 10-22 6th Section
Kaden Sanford 12th 7-18 4th Section
Dominick Thompson 9th 6-16 5th Section
Jessie Beckman 12th 5-10 6th Section
Alex Hagen 12th 4-8
Koltyn Larson 9th 4-19
Curt Green 11th 2-8
Graduates:
Keegan Senger 13-1 3rd Section/AC/117 Career Wins
Warren Nelson 15-15 4th Section
Tegan Larson 15-30 4th Section
BADGER/GREENBUSH-MIDDLE RIVER GATORS
Head Coach: Isaac Novacek
Overall:
The Gators were defeated by Fosston-Bagley 51-27 in the Section 8A quarterfinals. They had seven section place winners, three state qualifiers and two state medal winners. Back from that team are four section place winners, five with double figure wins and two with experience. Look for this young team to fill in with young junior varsity. If they stay healthy they could challenge their dual meet marks from last season. Possibly challenge for a top four spot in what should be a pretty balanced section. Their key leaders should include: Brogan Beito (21-23), Christian Berg (17-21) and Owen Lund (15-20).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Brogan Beito 12th 21-23 5th Section
Christian Berg 10th 17-21 4th Section
Owen Lund 9th 15-20 6th Section
Emmitt Isane 9th13-16
Eliot Isane 12th 12-21 3rd Section
Damion Hanson 10th 7-22
Graduates:
Caleb Vacura 42-4 1st Section/3rd State
Ethan Waage 34-7 1st Section/5th State
Nathan Wage 32-9 1st Section
FERTILE-BELTRAMI FALCONS
Head Coach: Willie Meine
North Star Conference:
Overall:
The Falcons were defeated by UNC 64-9, they did have nine section place winners, including one state qualifier. Back from that team are five section place winners and four with fourteen plus wins. Look for this young team to continue to improve, to fill in with junior varsity. They could challenge their dual meet records from last season. Their key leaders should include: Drew Rasch (24-18), Tyler Henderson (21-17), James Flynn (21-18 and Wesley Ramberg (14-16).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Drew Rasch 10th 24-18 4th Section
Tyler Henderson 12th 21-17 3rd Section
James Flynn 10th 21-18 3rd Section
Westley Ramberg 12th 14-16 5th Section
Jack Erickson 8th 3-15
Julian Ystenes 9th 4-18
Graduates:
Tyler Stuhaug 20-14 2nd Section
Micah Herbel 21-17 4th Section
Seth Lavalier 17-7 3rd Section
Levi Qualley 13-9 4th Section
BARNESVILLE TROJANS
Head Coach: Zachary Anderson
Heart O’Lakes Conference:
Overall:
The Trojans were defeated by their rivals Frazee 57-15 in their Section 8A quarterfinal dual. They will have back eight section place winners, including two state qualifiers and nine with double figure wins. Look for this young team to challenge last seasons dual meet marks. They should make strides of improvement through out the season. Their key leaders should include: Jordan Kroll (30-12), Ayden Hauck (29-5), Tim Wells (22-13), Asher O’Brien (19-18), Quincy Morey (15-18) and Quincy Morey (16-11).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Jordan Kroll 12th 30-12 2nd Section
Ayden Hauck 11th 29-5 1st Section
Tim Wells 12th 22-13 5th Section
Asher O’Brien 11th 19-18 5th Section
Quincy Morey 12th 16-11 5th Section
Cameron Halverson 9th 15-18
William Rotz 12th 13-25 5th Section
Hunter Blilie 11th 13-23 6th Section
MAHNOMEN/WAUBUN THUNDERBIRDS
Head Coach: John Black
North Star Conference:
Overall:
The Thunderbirds were defeated in their quarterfinal dual by Crookston 54-30. They had seven section place winners, including two state qualifiers. Back from that team are four section place winners, one state qualifier and five with double figure wins. This young team should continue to make strides of improvement, they could surprise a couple of their foes along the way. Their key leaders should include: Blake McMullen (33-15), Trevor Neisen (26-14), Dominick Neisen (24-8) Manny Johnson (17-24) and Talum Benent (14-24).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Blake McMullen 9th 33-15 3rd Section
Trevor Neisen 11th 26-14 5th Section
Dominick Neisen 11th 24-8 1st Section
Manny Johnson 9th 17-24
Tatum Benent 9th 14-24 5th Section
Tayshaun Bray 10th 5-9
Henry Geray 9th 2-15
Graduates:
Will Olson 34-7 2nd Section
Blake Geray 24-18 5th Section
Thomas Azure 15-24 5th Section
Lucas Geray 6-12
